くづれる家のひそかにくづれるひぐらしthe crumbling house crumbling in secret — an evening cicada

朽ちてゆく家が、目に見えないほどひそかにくずれつづけている。その静けさの中に、ひぐらしの声が澄んで響く。ゆっくり滅びてゆくものと、夕暮れの蝉の声。衰えの気配を澄んだ耳で聴いた句。A decaying house goes on crumbling so secretly the eye cannot catch it. Into that stillness the clear voice of an evening cicada rings out. A thing perishing slowly, and the evening cicada — the sign of decay heard with a clear ear.